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The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program is one of many programs administered through the UNC Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) and designed to enhance the educational experience of UNC undergraduates by engaging them in research opportunities. Each summer, PPMH sponsors two students who are working on precision-medicine related projects.

SURF Fellows

YearStudent NameResearch Mentor NameDepartmentProject Title
2023Katheryn KapferAlisa WolbergPathology & Laboratory Medicine•Influence of Fibrinogen and Fibrin on Macrophage and Neutrophil Infiltration in the Lungs in SARS-COV-2 Infection
2023Mia FoglesongMelissa HermanPharmacologyExamining the Potential Role of the Central Amygdala in the Therapeutic Effects of Psilocybin
2022Ian KlevansMark HeiseGenetics•Determining the Function of Novel Nonstructural Proteins in Chikungunya Virus
2022Parnika AgriwalDavid WilliamsPathology & Laboratory Medicine•Discovery of Novel Drug-like Molecules for the Treatment of Blood Disorders from a Combined In Silico and NMR Screen
2021Lauren SidelingerFlavio FrohlichPsychiatry•Using an At-Home EEG Device to Evaluate Intra-Individual Variation in Alpha Peak Frequency
2021Roger YuBrian ButtonBiochemistry & Biophysics•Mechanism of Action of Mucolytics in Improving Mucus Clearance in Lung Disease
2020Fiona WissinkAgeliki TsagaratouGeneticsResponse of the Immune Microenvironment in a Mouse Model of T-Cell Lymphoma
2020Leo PangSarah LinnstaedtAnesthesiology•Tissue Specificity and Timing of Post-stress Expression of the Chronic Pain-associated Protein FKBP51

Quote from a 2023 SURF recipient:

“My [SURF] research experience has solidified my desire to become a researcher professionally. I enjoyed conducting experiments, reading research articles, and explaining and presenting my research to others. This was my first time doing a project entirely on my own, and while it was intimidating, it has given me the confidence and skills to continue being on the front lines of scientific discovery.”

–Katheryn Kapfer